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(No Model.)

H. A. REED. BLEOTRIO GABLE .EOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. No. 565,178.Patented Aug. 4, 1896' Wig 653 as InVefi/ZW W 5 Q @4 M0 WQWM/M I UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. REED, ,OF NEWVARK, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO JOHN D. GOULD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND CHARLES A.HANSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC CABLE FOR FIRE-ALARM SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,178, dated August4, 1896.

Application filed December 30, 1895. Serial No, 573,742. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. REED, of Newark, in the county of Essex andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Cables or Conductors for Electric Fire-Alarm Systems, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, efiiicient,and practical electric conductor or electric cable for use moreparticularly in an electric fire-alarm system, such, for instance, as isdescribed and shown in Letters Patent of the United States, datedSeptember 10, 1895, No. 546,262; and the invention consists of anelectric conductor or electric cable for use in an electric fire-alarmsystem, all constructed and arranged for operation substantially ashereinafter f ully described, reference being had to the accompanyingsheet of drawings, in which is illustrated an electric conductor orelectric cable constructed in accordance with this invention and itsmanner of use in an electric firealarm system.

Figure 1 represents the sides of a room or building, with the walls,ceiling, and flooring in vertical section, with this electric conductoror cable applied thereto in connection with an alarm-sounding device foruse in an electric fire-alarm system. Figs. 2 and 4 are side views ofthe electric cable, showing its manner of construction; and Figs. 3 and5 are cross-sections of the electric cable, respectively, of Figs.- 2and 4:. Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, are enlarged to show the constructionof the cable-clearer.

In the drawings, A, B, and 0 represent the side walls of a room orbuilding, two, B O, of which are in vertical section; D and E, the floorand ceiling, respectively, in cross-section, and F the mop-board, all ofwhich is as usual in the construction of a room or building.

G is the electric cable or electric conductor, and, as shown in Figs. 2and 4, it is constructed as follows: H is a core-wire made of fusiblemetal, such as lead, or a compound of a metal that will fuse at a lowdegree of heat, and over this fusible core-wire is wound in closecontact therewith a copper wire J. Over the fusible wire with the copperwire wound thereon is placed a coating or covering L of insulatingmaterial, preferably one that will fuse or burn in a flame at a lowdegree of heat, and preferably at a lower degree of heat than thefusible metal covering will melt, and over this insulating material iswound a series of fine copper wires M, as many as desired being woundpreferably in long spiral form, and over these copper wires is anothercovering orcoating N of insulating material, one that is somewhat firmerand stronger, but yet that will melt or burn at the desired lowtemperature.

The electric cable as thus constructed is finished and ready for use inthe electric firealarm system, and in such use, as illustrated in Fig.1, it is secured to the sides or walls of the room as follows: Startingfrom a point at P on the wall A it is run along near the wallB down andthen along the mop-board F and up a short distance on the wallA close tothe wall 0, being secured at intervals by staples Q or in any suitablemanner.

The fusible wire H and copper wire J making practically electrically onewire, and the series of wires M are connected to an electric battery R,magnet S, and electric bell in the I following manner: A wire a isconnected to the ends of the fusible metal wire and copper wire J, whichruns to and connects with one pole of the electric battery R. From theother pole of the electric battery a wire Z) eX tends to and connectswith the electric bell T, and from the bell awire 6 runs to and connectswith the magnet S, and a wire f connects the magnet with all the wires Mwound upon the insulated fusible wire.

U is an armature for the electromagnet, pivoted at g to swing up anddown and to rest by its free end It upon a block V, secured to asupport, but which is of insulated material or insulated in any suitablemanner.

From the armature U runs a wire m, which connects with the wire a,connecting the battery and fusible wire H. A short distance above thefree end of the armature is a metal block W,secured to the Wall orsupport, which is connected by an electric wire a with the wire f,connecting the electromagnet and the wires M.

As shown, the device is in position for op eration and action, and if afire occurs in any part of the room or building where this electriccable or conductor is located the coatings or coverings of the insulatedmaterial at such place will melt or burn in flames, and the fusiblemetal wire at such place quickly becomes heated at the temperaturedetermined and melts and flows or runs down onto or connects or comes incontact with one or more or all of the electric wires M, which instantlymakes the circuit with the batter magnet, and bell through the wires andconnecting-wires, sounding the bell, also causing the magnet to attractthe armature, which moves up to and its end rests and bears upon oragainst the block W, when another or shorter electric circuit is madeindependent of the fusible-wire circuit, through the block XV, wire 12,wire f, magnet S, wire e, bcll T, wire Z), battery, wire a, and wire on,to armature, to block l/V, completing the circuit, the magnetholding thearmature in such c011- tact, which causes the bell to continue to soundas long as the battery lasts, or some person comes who has been warnedby the sounding of the bell.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown the electric cable without the copper wire J,the insulating material L being placed directly 011 the fusiblecore-wire H, and the series of copper wire M wound upon the insulatingmaterial and then the outer covering of insulating material N appliedthereto as before.

In practical use this electric cable or conductor can be run around theroom at any and all places desired, at any desired height, along themop-board, up at the sides, along the ceiling, cornices, into closets,and othersmall places, rise.

The electrical apparatus can be placed in another room or in any part ofthe building, or the hell can be placed outside of the building, asdesired, but the electric cable should be connected electrically withthe magnet and bell,as described, at all times,the circuit, however,being constantly open, the electric circuit being made when the fireoccurs, as described, and the alarm sounded.

The electric wires forming the electric cable can be of any convenientsize; also, as all the wires are arranged in a cable form, it can belaid easily and conveniently in all places about the room or building.

The electric circuit after being made by the fusing of the fusible wireor core is maintained by the short circuit through the armature, asdescribed, insuring the continuous sounding of the alarm, even if theelectric circuit between the conducting-wires should become broken fromany cause. It is preferable to have the insulated material of such anature that it will burst into a flame, thus adding heat to the fire,insuring the operation of the cable much quicker to sound the alarm.

The copper wire J directly upon the fusible core-wire adds strength tothe same and gives better conductivity for the electric current.

By having a series of electric wires M, the making of the electriccircuit is insured from the fusing of the fusible wire, as in suchfusing the fused metal will surely come in contact with some one wire ofthe series, and practically all that is necessary is that contact shallbe made between the fusible wire and one of the series of electric wiresto make the electric circuit when it is maintained through the magnetand armature.

The several wires can be of any suitable metal, although copper ispreferable, owing to its great conductivity; also, in lieu of a seriesof wires wound upon the first covering of insulating material, only onewire need be used, but it is well to have two or more, as the making ofthe electric circuit by the f using of the fusible wire is greatlyinsured.

Although this cable is described more particularly in reference to afire-alarm system,

it is applicable as well to a burglar or other alarm system, as in suchcase if the cable is compressed sufficiently at any place the electriccontact is made and the alarm sounded; or if it should be cut by aburglar, for instance, the electric contact will surely be made betweenthe two wires or conductors and the alarm sounded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An electric cableor conductor for electric fire or other alarm systems, composed asfollows, a central Wire of fusible metal or compound of metal, anelectric wire wound around said fusible wire, an insulating mate rialover the two wires, an electric wire wound upon the insulating materialand an insulating material covering the whole.

2. An electric cable or conductor, for electric fire or other alarmsystems, composed as follows, a central wire of fusible metal orcompound of metal, an insulating material over said fusible metal, aseries of electric wires wound upon the insulating material, and aninsulating material covering the whole.

An electric cable or conductor for elec tric fire or other alarmsystems, composed as follows, a central wire of fusible metal orcompound of metal, an electric wire wound around said fusible wire, aninsulating material over the two wires, a series of wires wound upon theinsulating material, and an insulating material covering the whole.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. REED.

\Vitnesses THOMAS H. REED, W. WoLco'rr MARKs.

